The Four Operations of a Computer System
Input
Home computers are microcomputers. Input is supplied to
the microcomputer with the use of a keyboard, a mouse, or
another input device. These input devices may be called
peripheral devices.
Output
Output is the result of a computer process. Output may be
viewed on a monitor screen, heard through speakers, printed on
printers, and so forth. Output devices may be considered
hardware and are also considered to be peripheral devices.
Processing
Processing is done inside the computer in an area called the
central processing unit (CPU). Processing is the conversion
of input to output.
You might have observed by now that we have been referring
to a computer as a system (computer system).
Since a computer is made up of integrated components (input
and output devices, storage, CPU) that work together to
perform the steps called fro in the program being executed, it is
Storage refers to holding information somewhere.
RAM, Random Access Memory, is short-term memory. It is
volatile memory because the memory is automatically "erased"
when the power is turned off or interrupted. The RAM
memory is located inside the computer case on the
motherboard. A motherboard is not the keyboard. The
keyboard is what you type with. A motherboard holds RAM
memory, electronic circuits and other computer parts including
the central processing unit. ROM, Read-Only-Memory, is not
volatile meaning the memory is still there when power is
interrupted or turned off.
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